No. 22 Ohio State travels to face No. 15 Illinois in a crucial Big Ten matchup on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes enter off an 80-69 overtime win against Indiana, while Illinois recently defeated Michigan State 79-74.

Current Big Ten Standings:

• Purdue (13-4)
• Wisconsin (12-4)
• Illinois (12-4)
• Ohio State (10-5)
• Rutgers (10-6)
• Michigan State (9-6)

Team Analysis:

Ohio State:

• Efficient offense led by NBA prospect EJ Liddell
• Ranks 19th in overall shooting percentage
• 27th in three-point percentage
• Solid defense (29th in opponent two-point percentage)
• Struggles with size and rebounding

Illinois:

• Dominated by Kofi Cockburn (21.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG)
• Strong rebounding (39.7 per game, 13th nationally)
• Efficient three-point shooting (9.2 made per game)
• Top-25 defense in multiple categories
• Excellent paint protection

Betting Outlook: Illinois opens as 4-5 point favorites at home. Despite the spread, Ohio State has potential for an upset win given their recent momentum and efficient offense.

The winner will strengthen their position in a tight Big Ten race with conference tournament implications on the line.

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